📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, set to conduct a crewed space mission in June, is facing issues with a small helium gas leak in its propulsion system. Despite the leak, officials from NASA and Boeing have decided to proceed with the mission. The vessel, which has been in development since 2010, aims to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station.
The decision to move forward with the mission comes after extensive analysis and testing to assess the impact of the helium leak on the spacecraft’s safety. Although the leak was described as small and stable, engineers found a design vulnerability in the propulsion system that could prevent the spacecraft from conducting a critical deorbit burn at the end of the mission.
Senior managers from NASA and Boeing revealed that even if the leak were to worsen, it would not pose an unacceptable risk to the crewed mission. While the leak is located in one of the propulsion modules of the Starliner, plans are in place to monitor the situation closely leading up to the launch on June 1.
The Starliner program has faced several setbacks over the years, including software issues, problems with parachutes, and propulsion system challenges. The decision to proceed with the crewed mission without repairing the gas leak underscores the determination of the teams involved to overcome obstacles and achieve a successful mission.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is counting on the success of the Starliner mission to certify another commercial vehicle for crewed flights to the ISS. The space agency is hopeful that overcoming the challenges posed by the helium leak will mark a significant milestone in the Starliner program’s journey towards operational crewed flights.